City Departments

SUBJECT: Teen Feed partners with Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks to support youth in crisis in South Seattle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6/18/2013 8:04:00 AM

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tabitha Jensen(206) 522-4366

Ralph Fragale(206) 454-3931

Jeron Gates(206) 255-4051

Teen Feed partners with Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks to support youth in crisis in South Seattle

In collaboration with Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation, Teen Feed is expanding its meal program to serve youth and young adults in need in South Seattle, starting with a meal on Thursday, June 27, from 7 to 8 p.m. at South Shore K-8 School, 4800 S Henderson St. (This is also the temporary location of Rainier Beach Community Center Teen Programs while the new community center is under construction.)

Beginning this month, Teen Feed will provide warm meals and resources to youth and young adults, ages 13-25 at South Shore K-8 School between 7 and 8 p.m. every Thursday evening during Seattle Parks and Recreation Summer Late Night Program. The Teen Feed meal will provide opportunities for Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation’s violence prevention programs to build relationships with the youth and young adults they serve, connecting them with valuable resources and critical support to help them make positive choices.

Teen Feed serves warm meals and support to 50-80 young people every night of the year in Seattle’s University District. Building on the demonstrated success of its programs supporting homeless and street-involved youth in University District, Teen Feed launched a Strategic Plan to bring the Teen Feed meal and supportive connections to more youth in need in King County. In June 2012, Teen Feed successfully expanded its meal program to serve 20-30 youth in need the Auburn area every Friday evening.

Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation are working together in support of the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI), which intends to prevent victims of violence and their friends and relatives from continuing the cycle of violence. In support of SYVPI, Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation have teamed up to support youth affected by violence in the South Seattle community by offering prevention programs at South Shore K-8 School. Programs include life skills classes, extramural physical activities and mental health support programs. Atlantic Street Center’s mental health program offers case management, mentoring and youth employment to young people ages 13-25. Last year Atlantic Street Center served more than 300 young people, most of whom are homeless and youth of color who do not have stable housing.

To serve the youth in need through SYVPI, Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation have established a common connection point to introduce youth to the services available and build stronger relationships with youth they currently support. Until now, there has been no consistent meal program designed to meet the needs these young people in South Seattle. To meet these needs, the three agencies are forming Teen Feed South Seattle, offering healthy, nutritious meals, consistency, and connections to supportive services for homeless and at-risk youth in South Seattle area.

On June 27, 2013, with the help of a volunteer meal team, Teen Feed South Seattle will prepare and serve its inaugural Thursday evening meal between 7 and 8 p.m. to youth ages 13-25 at South Shore K-8 School. As word of the program spreads, Teen Feed South Seattle expects to see more than 30 youth for dinner every Thursday night. In addition, People of Color against AIDS Network (POCAAN) and The Northwest Network have also expressed interest in connecting youth with their services at Teen Feed South Seattle. Teen Feed, Atlantic Street Center and Seattle Parks and Recreation share the philosophy of meeting youth where they are -- both physically and individually.

“Teen Feed is inspired to be collaborating with such dynamic and dedicated partners in South Seattle, “said Tabitha Jensen, Executive Director of Teen Feed. “The consistency and support we can bring to young people by working together will create a stronger community for everyone.”

About Atlantic Street CenterAtlantic Street Center’s mission is to help families and communities raise healthy, successful children and youth.

About Seattle Parks and RecreationSeattle Parks and Recreation provides welcoming and safe opportunities to play, learn, contemplate and build community, and promotes responsible stewardship of the land. About Teen FeedTeen Feed works with the community to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth as they meet their future off the streets. Teen Feed provides for homeless youth through three main programs; Teen Feed meal program, Street Talk Outreach Program (STOP), and Service Links for Youth (SLY). Teen Feed presently serves young people in need in Seattle’s University District and Auburn areas.